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August 12, 2017

Busting Those Myths

Despite the fact that it is reckoned to be thriving in over 75 countries – and is a low-cost sport to start playing - sitting volleyball remains a minority sport in many people’s eyes. A critical factor in this may be the many common misconceptions of the sport which still prevail.

“Bums on floors; that’s what we need more of!” exclaims Vicky Widdup, vice-captain of the GB women’s sitting volleyball team. Vicky is hell-bent on a mission to recruit more sitting volleyballers. And while you get the sense that the more traditionally sought after ‘bums on seats’ would be nice too – in terms of paying spectators – for now, Vicky has her attention firmly focused on the floor.

“We’ve got to get more people playing,” she explains. “This sport has given me so much and now I just want to see it grow as much as it can.”

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Over the summer, Vicky and her fellow sitting volleyball enthusiasts are trying to raise awareness of the attraction of sitting volleyball – for both able-bodied and disabled athletes – across various digital channels, such as the Volleyslide website, Volleyball England website and the GB sitting volleyball Twitter account (@GBSittingVball). Keep an eye out for more content from them in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, if you want to register your interest in getting involved with sitting volleyball - as a player, coach, club administrator or volunteer – you can do so by emailing sittingvolleyball.information@gmail.com.

Five years on from the London Olympics and Paralympics, the name of Martine Wright is one which still resonates with volleyballers across this country. Catapulted into the public psyche as part of the Great Britain sitting volleyball team at the Paralympics, Martine’s back-story was one of unimaginable horror, after she was caught up in the London Underground bombings of 7/7.

The 2016/2017 season was the first season that Sheffield Volleyball Club had supported a sitting volleyball team. In their first season, they were runners-up in the league and cup finalists. Only losing to London Lynx, a squad boasting many of the London 2012 Paralympic team.

In 2017 we received a sports grant from Sport England to fully develop sitting volleyball within the club. This included funds to create a sitting volleyball court at our home venue in Sheffield.

Sitting volleyball is a fully inclusive sport, welcoming both fully able and disabled players with any experience. During the 2017/18 season, we hope to continue our success, participating in more competitions, playing more games and developing more keen players.